Sosua is a small beach town on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, about 25 kilometres east of Puerto Plata. It has two distinct halves: El Batey, the more tourist-oriented western section with restaurants, bars, and hotels along the main drag of Pedro Clisante; and Los Charamicos, the Dominican side, which is cheaper, more local, and closer to everyday Dominican life.
Sosua Beach is the centrepiece — a sheltered cove with calm water, a coral reef close to shore, and good snorkelling right off the beach. Vendors line the sand selling souvenirs and drinks — bargain hard, as initial prices are aimed at tourists. For more serious underwater exploration, Sosua Bay diving is one of the better options on the north coast, with coral walls descending to 30 metres and reliable reef fish and ray sightings.
The town has a surprising and moving Jewish heritage: in the early 1940s, when the rest of the world's doors were closed, the Dominican Republic offered refuge to European Jews fleeing the Nazi regime. The Sosua Jewish Museum documents their story in remarkable detail, and the 1941 synagogue they built still stands beside it.
Be aware that taxis and motoconchos (motorcycle taxis) will try to overcharge tourists — agree on a price before getting in. The town has a reputation for nightlife and hustling that puts some visitors off, but if you know what to expect and keep your wits about you, Sosua is an enjoyable stop on the north coast.